The Centre's net direct tax collections have registered 52.9 per cent increase in the period between April and June 23 to Rs 42,678 crore. Official sources said that advance tax collections (first instalment) have touched Rs 18,717 crore. This represents a 27.52 per cent increase over advance tax collections of Rs 14,678 crore recorded in the period up to June 23. The due date for the first instalment of advance tax was June 15. For the current fiscal, the Centre is targeting direct taxes collection of Rs 2,67,490 crore